Senior AI Software Architect

Principal AI Software Architect

📍 Bridgeton, MO (Hybrid Onsite)

💲 $80.00-$84.00/hr W2 during contract

💰 Target Conversion Salary: $150,000-$160,000

🕒 Contract-to-Hire

✅ Benefits available while on contract

❌ W2 only

❌ No C2C

❌ No current or future sponsorship available (USC or US Permanent Residents only)

📌 Local St. Louis / Bridgeton-area candidates only

We are seeking a Principal AI Software Architect to help lead and shape enterprise AI initiatives within a growing technology environment that is actively building and expanding its AI strategy and engineering capabilities.

This is a highly visible architecture-level role focused on helping drive AI adoption, software architecture strategy, engineering best practices, and scalable AI/ML solution development across the organization.

The environment is early in its AI journey and looking for someone who can help evaluate where AI fits into the business, guide implementation strategy, mentor teams, and help mature engineering and AI delivery processes moving forward.

Current AI Environment:

• Teams are actively experimenting with AI platforms including Claude and Devin to generate prototypes and accelerate development workflows

• Prototypes are tested across different AI platforms before engineering teams begin application development

• The organization is continuing to evolve and improve AI engineering workflows, delivery strategy, and operational processes

• Strong opportunity to influence long-term AI architecture and enterprise adoption strategy

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect and lead development of AI-driven platforms and scalable enterprise software systems

• Collaborate with engineering, product, and business teams to define AI use cases and technical strategy

• Evaluate AI frameworks, software technologies, and cloud platforms for scalability and long-term maintainability

• Establish best practices around AI/ML engineering, software architecture, MLOps, DevOps, CI/CD, and automated testing

• Mentor engineering teams and help drive innovation and engineering excellence

• Guide long-term technical strategy and enterprise AI roadmap initiatives

• Support secure, ethical, and compliant AI development practices

• Participate in code reviews, architectural planning, and engineering governance activities

Required Experience:

• 7 years of software architecture and engineering experience

• 2 years focused on AI/ML systems and AI-driven engineering initiatives

• Strong cloud experience within AWS, Azure, or GCP environments

• Experience designing and deploying scalable AI/ML software solutions

• Strong understanding of machine learning, generative AI, NLP, and modern AI tooling

• Experience mentoring teams and influencing technical strategy

• Strong application development background

• 5 years of hands-on experience with Visual Studio .NET

• 5 years of relational database experience, preferably SQL Server

• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to collaborate across business and technical teams

Preferred Background:

• Enterprise AI architecture experience

• AI engineering workflow optimization

• CI/CD and DevOps best practices

• MLOps exposure

• Experience helping organizations scale AI adoption and engineering maturity

• Strategic thinker capable of aligning technical vision with business goals

📌 This role requires hybrid onsite availability in Bridgeton, MO.

📌 Local candidates only — no relocation available.

📌 Candidates should be available for video screening interviews within the next couple of days due to a quick client submission timeline.